09-09-2018, 12:21 PM
It is really interesting to read the range of opinions presented on the USC boards. Helton is getting destroyed on most of them. Tee Martin is also getting hit hard. Lots of people are saying that USC should have stuck to the run more. I tend to agree. The Stanford defense did give up some run yardage. However, it is also true that the Stanford defense would then rise up and stuff a run for no gain (or worse). Running on third and 5 all the time is perhaps not a good idea, so the "run more" approach has some limitations. SC probably should have persisted more with the run. However, being behind does tend to make teams want to attack, and being patient is difficult, especially at USC.
It is also interesting that lots of USC fans seem to believe that Helton got lucky with Darnold, and that he isn't really much of a coach. I also share this opinion. Darnold was a great talent, particularly when the called play breaks down. He didn't need a crisply executed game plan to be pretty successful. That is a rare condition, and right now SC does need better scheme to be successful. Let's hope they don't get it.
It is also interesting that lots of USC fans seem to believe that Helton got lucky with Darnold, and that he isn't really much of a coach. I also share this opinion. Darnold was a great talent, particularly when the called play breaks down. He didn't need a crisply executed game plan to be pretty successful. That is a rare condition, and right now SC does need better scheme to be successful. Let's hope they don't get it.